Except we have very little pace and the only player that does - Steve - is ****e at decision making and is technically and tactically naive.
To some extent I agree. We shouldn't throw them straight into the team, but should have at least allowed Sinclair or Hoskins on the bench considering we were short on strikers...
My only worry is our mentality - one thing Nigel is always going on about is momentum and mentality. We have the winning mentality and momentum at home, but do we away? I think it is playing on the players minds that we are poor away from home so there is no belief. We are way, way, way ahead of where I thought we would be after 20 games, so I am happy, BUT, please Saints start believing that we are a great team and bring that into away games. No7 PS we really miss Chaplow and Lambert. Two of the spine of the team.
Why not?We've got some quality players in our academy might aswell use them,if they are good enough why not?After all this is what Cortese wants us to do. Last time we used our youngsters they weren't good enough to play in the first team,these are good enough though I think so and so do many other people.
I think a lot of people are looking at striking cover in the wrong way. We certainly need another striker, but not a carbon copy of Lambert. In the unlikely event that we managed to find one, it would be a nightmare trying to play them together. What we really need are alternative plans for playing with different personnel. After all, Lambert isn't injured that often - his current knock doesn't look too serious. IMO we miss Connolly A LOT. His intelligent movement and link-up play give us the confidence to use our width. Barnard runs hard and finishes well, but I've never been that convinced by his movement and intelligent link-up play even when he has been fully fit. IMO the new striker should be a younger and fitter version of David Connolly. I.E. Intelligent, creative, nippy and a good team player. Being a goalscorer is a given obviously, as is having the right attitude. We might need to splash some cash, but that's warranted when you aim for promotion. We do miss Chamberlain also when games require pace and directness. A quick, direct and powerful option like that Adomah chap for Brizzle wouldn't go amiss. Pace and very good end product is a bit much to ask at this level, but someone to run at fullbacks is useful.4
Top of the league, you're having a laugh! The Donny fans were right. If we are the best team then to lose to Donny makes us the worst team. It was all kick and rush for most of the game.The match today was like a trip back to the last time we were in the Championship, knowing that we were never going to score. A shot on goal would have broken the monotony. The guy behind me kept up a constant barrage of abuse at Guly and Hammond but to be honest the whole lot of them looked half asleep. Seen three games so far, poor against Barnsley, poor against Burnley and dire against Donny. Away games should hold out some hope of entertainment. Donny wanted it more!
also one thing i have noticed, adkins never seems to drop someone due to poor form? yes, i know we're top of the league but recently when a few players have consistently struggled yet they're also consistently in the side - Cork, Hammond, Guly & Fox spring to mind right now and Lallana to a further extent also a note that Ben Reeves was involved in the travelling party, so cant be too far from the 1st team
Who is he meant to drop them for though? In terms of midfielders and strikers, Holmes would have been the only option today, unless you starting turning to the youth team - and I don't think you can do that. Putting them on the bench is one thing, but throwing them straight into the starting XI? The squad is just too thin. (As it happens, I don't actually think any deserve dropping, but that's not the point)
True, although the likes of Reeves & Doble could have been involved I suppose - I dunno, its a hard one cos we have a big squad, but not the quality in backup
Our squad ain't strong enough. We're overperforming at the top of the Championship. This SQUAD is playoff material at best. When you look at our bench today compared to West Hams or even Cardiff's, you'll realise just how well we've done to be top of the league for so long. It's only natural for us to slip down the table, and Adkins shares this view - "we want to be in the top 10 come the New Year".
Evening fellas. If you can tighten up away from home and keep St.Mary's the fortess that it is,you'll have nothing to worry about,other than getting injuries to the likes of Lambert and Llana (sp). All the best
